Booster aft shoe latching mechanism



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mllllllunlll! lllllllllllll lll ml llll Jan. 8, 1963 R. c. wlLsoN BOOSTER AFT SHOE LATCHING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 22. 1959 l1 Sheets-Sheet 2 NOOm Jan. 8, 1963 R. c. wlLsoN 3,072,018

BOOSTER AFT SHOE LATCI-IING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 22. 1959 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 8, 1963 R. c. WILSON BOOSTER AFT SHOE LATOHING MEOHANISM Original Filed Oct. 22. 1959 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,MS c @Jay 1 l.

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Jan. 8, 1963 R. c. wlLsoN 3,072,018

` BOOSTER AFT SHOE LATCHING MECHANISM original Filed oct. 22. 1959 11 sheets-sheet s Jan. 8, 1963 R. c. wlLsoN BOOSTER AFT SHOE LATCHING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 22. 1959 l1 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jan. 8, 1963 R. c. wlLsoN BOOSTER AFT SHOE LATCHING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 22. 1959 1l Sheets-Sheet 7 Jan. 8, 1963 R. c. wlLsoN BOOSTER AFT SHOE LATCHING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 22. 1959 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 Q #h m mi NOOm m5 Jan. 8, 1963 R. c. WILSON 3,072,018

BOOSTER AFT SHOE LATCHING MECHANISM original Filed oct. 22. 1959 11 sheets-sheet' F/a. s

FIG 9A 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 Jan. 8, 1963 R. c. wlLsoN BOOSTER AFT sHoE LATCHING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 22. 1959 Jan. 8, 1963 R. c. WILSON BOOSTER AFT SHOE LATCHING MECHANISM Original Filed Oct. 22. 1959 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 a mgm Fatented dan. 8, lllld @illico 3,072,03'8 EGSTER AFT SHE LATQHlNG li/iECHANlSM Richard C. Wilson, tihaniplin, Minn., assigner, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented hy the Secretary of the Navy @riginal application er. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 84S,l63. Divided and this application Bec. 3l, i959, Ser. No. 863,367

3 Claims. (Cl. 89-1.7)

This invention relates generally to missile weapon launching apparatus and more particularly it pertains to an aft booster shoe latching arrangement for releasably engaging a missile weapon with the launcher of a guided missile launching system.

This patent application is a division of US. patent application Serial Number 848,l63, entitled fGuided Missile Launching System, tiled on October 22, 1959, by Myron J. Bauer et al.

ln booster assisted launching of missiles or aircraft from zero length launchers, it is necessary to delay their release until the thrust of the booster is adequate for flight of the missile weapon. ln addition, because the launcher guide usually is aimed at any angle including the vertical, adequate support must be provided for the missile weapon or aircraft together with a quick release action thereof.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a lug receiving and retaining pawl for a missile weapon which cooperates with a restraining lug on a launcher.

Another object of this invention is to provide a restraining pawl for a missile weapon launcher which incorporates a predetermined thrust release.

Another object of this invention is to provide an arrangement for transferring engagement of a missile weapon handling lug from a first set of pawls to a second set of pawls.

And another object of this invention is to provide a lug presence sensing mechanism for a lug engagement mechanism.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a heavy toggle cooking and release pawl mechanism having birding action.

And still yet another object of this invention is to provide a safety latch for a booster lug retaining latch of a missile weapon.

These and other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent and undei-stood from the following detailed specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FlG. l. is a side elevation, with parts removed, of a guided missile launcher with a weapon positioned thereon;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross section of the rear portion of a launcher guide arm;

FIG. 3 is a dimetric view of a saddle cart and pawl linkage therefor showing relationship to tracks of a loader;

FlG. 4 is a dimetric View of a guide arm latch and saddle cart;

FIG. 5 is an operational schematic of the guide arm latching mechanism ready for loading of a missile Wea- POR;

FIG. 5a is a section taken of the forward latch links showing details of the locking detent when the mechanism is positioned'as in PlG. 5;

PIG. 6 is an operational schematic of the guide arm latching mechanism with the missile weapon loaded to the guide arm;

FIG. 6a is a section taken of the forward latch links showing details of the locking detent when the mechanisrn is positioned as in FlG. 6;

FIG. 7 is an operational schematic of the guide arm latching mechanism with the missile weapon latched to the guide arm;

FIG. 7a is a section taken of the forward latch links showing details ofthe locking detent when the mechanism is positioned as in FIG. 7;

FIG. 8 is an operational schematic of the guide arm latching mechanism with the missile weapon in the readyto-fire position;

FIG. 8a is a section taken of the forward latch links showing details of the locking detent when the mechanism is positioned as in FlG. 8;

FIG. 9 is an operational schematic of the guide arm latching mechanism with the missile weapon after threesixteenths inch or" guided travel;

FIG. 9a is a section taken of the forward latch links showing details of the locking detent when the mechanism is positioned as in PEG. 9;

FIG. l0 is an operational schematic of the guide arm latching mechanism with the missile weapon after live and one-half inches of guided travel; and

FlG. ll is an operational schematic of the guide arm latching mechanism with the missile weapon at end of guided travel.

FlG. 11a is a section taken of the forward latch links showing details of the locking detent when the mechanism is positioned as in FlG. 1l.

Referring now to FiG. l, there is shown a launcher Stltlll, which is part of a guided missile launching system referred to in the above mentioned patent application. The launcher limiis provided with a pair of guide arms SW2, and a carriage 5016. The launcher tltltl may be trained in a horizontal plane by rotating the carriage Stile, and elevated in a vertical plane by means of a trunnion tube Sill upon which the guide arms 5002 are pivotcd. A missile weapon Qllltl, consisting of a missile lil@ and a booster Zilli is shown supported upon a launcher rail illl of the guide arm 5h62.

After being equipped with Wings ltlZ and line MM- for missile lilo, and iins 29S for the booster Zit@ elsewhere, the weapon ad@ is transported over a span track diltll temporarily joined to the aft end of the guide arm 5%2, shown in FIG. 2.

The booster Edil of the weapon dit@ has a wide forward booster shoe, not shown, which slides upon the launcher rail Sill-.tl and a narrow aft upper booster shoe Ztl-l. The weight of the missile weapon ld/1l is so distributed that this aft booster shoe Zildthrusts upwardly and provides no support but only a thrust guide and locking means therefor.

The missile weapon lili? is pushed to its desired location on the launcher rail 5M@ by a saddle cart 2li-'36, shown in FIG. 3. A plurality of vertical and horizontal rollers 2h53 and 26643, respectively, adapted for skid tracks iilll and ZlSil, enable the narrow aft upper booster shoe 2% to be guided by the wide launcher rail dlti. ln the saddle cart Edda, a pair of articulated pawls, namely a reverse or aft motion pawl 26h55 and a forward motion pawl Zeil?, retain and push, respectively, the aft booster shoe ZSK-l therebetween.

ln location on the guide arm SW2, the missile weapon lili? is released by the saddle cart 26% which then withdrawns from the launcher rail tllll. The Saddle cart Zflfld is shown in FlG. 4 relinquishing the aft upper booster shoe 29d to a forward motion restraining latch :"a'lli and a reverse motion latch Sliitl of an aft shoe latching mechanism Silit.

The att shoe latching mechanism Elli?, shown in FlG. 2 and illustrated in detail in FIGS. 5 through ll, receives the aft upper booster shoe 2M- from the loader saddle cart Zilli@ and retains the missile weapon d0@ in a position for firing on the launcher guide arm 5h02.

The aft shoe latching mechanism 5MG is mounted near the aft end of the guide arm 5002. The botto-m of the iauncher guide arm 5002 contains a rectangular opening for the latching mechanism ll. Near the bottom of a housing 5l2 for the latching mechanism, a peripheral ange 5F14 extends to mount the aft shoe latching mechanisrn Sift? to the bottom of the launcher guide arm 5002.

The basic unit of the aft shoe latching mechanism Sli@ is the previously mentioned latch housing 5112, as shown in FGS. 5 to ll. One side of the latch housing SH2 is provided with a removable latch housing cover (not shown). Narni uid is circulated through both the latch housing SM2 and the cover therefor to prevent ice from forming.

A restraining motion spring 5116 restricts the rotation of a forward motion restraining latch SMS. The forward motion restraining latch 5118 is provided to engage the front of the booster aft shoe 204 and prevent the missile weapon 400 from shifting forward on the guide arm 5G02.

When the booster 260 of the missile weapon 400 is fired and the forward thrust is approximately 10,000 pounds, the forward motion restraining latch EMS rotates, compressing the restraining motion spring 5116 until a pair of pivotally joined forward latch links 5120 and 5122 go over center and collapse. The aft shoe 204 of the booster 200 is thereby released and the restraining motion spring Sile returns to its normal position.

A buffer piston 57124 restricts the return of the restraining motion spring S116 after the missile weapon 400 is red and the forward latch links 5120 and 5122 have gone over center and collapsed.

When the buffer piston 5124 is moved upwardly, a check valve 5l26 in the piston 52- opens, permitting oil to ow from the top to the bottom thereof through drilled passages and the check valve 5126. On the return stroke, the check valve 5126 is seated and the buffer piston 5124 buffs the restraining spring recoil by the oil returning to the top of the piston through clearance between the piston 525 and the cylinder wall of the check valve 5126. The buffer piston SMQ is a smooth cylinder which has no oil grooves. A piston shaft S228 extends from the top of the buffer piston S124.

A rocker arm 5130 drives the forward latch links 5120 and 522 into the overcenter position when the reverse motion latch 5160 for the aft booster shoe 204 is raised. A pin 5l32 holds one end of the rocker arm 5130 to a reverse motion latch piston 5178, and a second pin S133 holds the other end of the rocker arm 5130 to a forward latch link clevis 53H4. As the reverse motion latch 5160 raises, an adjusting screw 5136 in the rocker arm Silit) pivots against a cam S138, forcing the forward latch links 53.20 and 51.22 over center.

The link clevis S134 in a connecting link between the rocker arm 5130 and the upper forward latch link 5120. When the reverse motion latch 5M@ is raised, the rocker arm 5130 pivots, swinging the end of link clevis Sli in a small arc. When the rocker arm 5130 is at the greatest distance in the path of its arc, the link clevis 5134 pushes the forward latch links SiZl and ZZ over center, as best shown in FIG. 5.

A forward latch links cam 5M@ is provided to force the forward latch links Stdt and EEZ?. over center when the forward motion restraining latch lt'i pushesrthe forward latch links 5126 and SM2 upwardly. The forward latch link cam Sie@ is a pyramid shaped structure which is secured to the latch housing SH2, as shown in FTG. 5.

,A differential link 5142 lifts arswivel trackV 5144i after the guidearm 50%.?. is loaded with a weapon 400 and the reverse motion latch Slo@ is lowered, as shown best in FEG. 8. Buring the loading cycle of the weapon 400, the aft booster shoe 204 is positioned below a pair of shoe indicator plungers SllSZ, as shown in FIG. 8. The reverse motion latch 53.6@ is then lowered by the reverse motion latch piston M78. Upon lowering ythe reverse motion latch, the differential link S142 is caused to rotate clockwise. This rotation, acting on a diferental transfer clevis 5146 and a track toggle link S150, lifts the swivel track 5%4, sho-wn raised in FIG. 8.

A differential pivot 5146 lifts the shoe indicator plungers 515.?. for the aft booster shoe 204 when the reverse tnotion latch S160 is lifted, thus supporting and providing a pivot for the dierential link S142.

A spring-loaded forward latch detent Si, shown best PEG. 5a, holds the forward latch links S120 and 5122 over center. Unly in the overcenter position is the forward motion restraining latch SMS capable of restraining the forward motion of the weapon 400. When the reverse motion latch 516i) is raised, the rocker arm 5130 pivots against cani SHS and forces the forward latch links 5H@ and 5122 over center.

A boss Sd, as shown PEG. 5a, on the upper latch link 5mi? strikes the latch detent 5154. The detent 5154 is mounted at an approximately sixty (60) degree angle with respect to the front of the housing SH2. As the upper latch link 512) moves against the detent 5154, it moves inward at a sixty (60) degree angle.

When the upper forward latch link 5120 passes a pre` determined point, the detent 5154 slides over the forward latch link and the link S is locked over center. When the forward motion restraining latch 5118 is pushed for wardly, the forward latch links S120 and 5122 are pushed upwardly to compress the restraining motion spring 5116. As the upperllatch link 5120 rises, it clears the detent S154 and it is forced over center by the forward latch link cam 514i). This action is shown consecutively in FIGS. 5 to 11a.

The two shoe indicator plungers 5152, spring-loaded to the extend position, release a reverse motion safety latch 5153. The indicator plungers 5152 are lifted by the reverse motion latch 5160 before loading of the weapon 400. After the reverse motion latch 5160 is lowered, the indicator plungers 5152 rest on top of the aft booster shoe 204. When the booster 200 of the weapon 400 is tired, the indicator plungers 5152 extend. This rotates the differential link 5142 and releases the safety latch 5158, as s Lown in FIG. 7.

Two latch blocks StSZ are provided which form a reinforcing frame on the right and left side of the latch housing 5112 to support a pivot pin 511343 for the forward motion restraining latch S118, the shoe indicator plungers 5152 and the forward latch detent SL54.

The forward motion restraining latch SMS engages the front of the booster aft shoe 20dand prevents the weapon 400 from shifting ahead on the launcher guide arm 5002 until the booster 200 is fired. When the booster 200 of the missile weapon 400 is tired, the thrust of the booster 20d swings the forward motion restraining latch 51H5 forward, allowing the aft booster shoe 204 to clear the latch. The forward motion restraining latch Elt resembles a tuning fork which is mounted by the handle and has an area between theforks for the forward motion pawl .2b-07, shown in FIG. 6, to slide through when the saddle cart 2006 is moved in. Y

The reverse motion latch 5160 slides in back of the booster aft shoe 204 when the weapon is loaded to the guide arm 5002. T he reverse motion latch 5160 is an H-shaped steel device. The reverse motion latch 5160 travels Vat an angle from the vertical. Guided in this manner, the reverse motion latch actually moves the aft booster shoe 204 forward to wedge in against the restraining force of the ,forward motion restraining latch SHS,

.as shown in FlGS. 7 and 8.

The diferential transferclevis 51% connects the differential link 5142 to the track toggle link 5150 and releases the safety latch SSS after the booster 200 of the weapon 400 is fired. When the booster aft shoe 204 is in the load position on the guide arm 5002, the reverse motion latch Stott is lowered in back of the aft booster shoe 2M. Lowering of the reverse motion latch S in back of the aovaois aft booster shoe 204 rotates the differential link 5142,

which, in turn, pushes the differential transfer clevis 5148 back, and causes the track toggle link S15@ to be rotated,

as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

After the booster- 20G of the missile weapon liti is red, the shoe indicator plungers 53.52 drop, rotating the differential link 5142 counterclockwise. As ythe ditte ential link 5142 rotates, the differential transfer clevis Sli moves forward and an adjusting screw 5164 strikes and releases the safety latch 5.1158, as shown in FIG. l0.

The safety latch Sl locks the reverse motion latch 516i in the extended position when the guide arm 5862 is loaded with the weapon 4Q@ and `the saddle cart 2h66 of the loader 2662 has returned from the reverse motion latch Slot?.

When the shoe indicator plungers 5152 are on top of the booster aft shoe 264 and the reverse motion latch 516i? is lowered, a safety latch spring 5166 tends -to lock the safety latch 5158 over the reverse motion latch Slot). However, a chain pawl roller 2235 on the saddle cart forward motion pawl 2h67, as shown best in FIG. 7, contacts a pawl indicator link l68 and holds the safety latch 5153 disengaged.

This safety provision allows the weapon @titl to be unloaded without firing of the booster 2h@ thereof, if desired. When the loader chain pawl roller 2235 moves away with the saddle cart, the spring-loaded safety latch 5158 snaps over the reverse motion latch Sled. if a weapon dill) is to be unloaded from 'the launcher guide arm SW2, the loader chain pawl roller 2235 contacts the pawl indicator link 5168 and releases the safety latch l.

A safety latch release link Sli, and the adjusting screw 52h34 are connecting means between the pawl indicator link 516% and the safety latch 5158.

The track toggle link SSil raises and lowers the swivel track 5144. rThe track toggle link 5156 pivots on a pin 5172. The shuttling of the differential transfer clevis S148 raises or lowers the swivel track 5144.

The pawl indicator link Slo?, releases the safety latch 5158 when the saddle cart 29% of the loader 2h32 is in a position to unload the weapon tilil from the guide arm 5002. When the chain pawl roller 2235 enters the loaded guide arm SM2, the roller 2255 contacts the pawl indicator link 5168 and releases the safety latch Side.

The swivel track 5144 raises the lforward motion pawl `2007 of the saddle cart 26% over the aft booster shoe 204, allowing the saddle cart 29% to unlatch from the aft booster shoe Ztlfl, as shown in FIG. 7.

A hydraulic actuator piston Slii supplements the spring force of the shoe indicator plungers 5152 to positively move the differential transfer clevis ill-"i3 forward to release the safety latch SilSS after the booster 2nd of the weapon intl is tired, as shown in FIG. l0.

After the booster shoe Ztl@ is under the shoe indicator plungers M52, a solenoid-operated directional pilot valve S036 which is part of a guide arm control 5h32 is cycled to lower the aft motion latch 5165i. Cycling of the directional pilot valve 5h36 applies hydraulic pressure to the top of the reverse motion latch piston SlS and to the hydraulic actuator piston Sll, as shown best in FIG. 7.

When the reverse motion latch piston 5ll'78 moves downwardly, the dierential transfer clevis il moves against the hydraulic actuator piston 5174, pushing the hydraulic actuator piston S174 inwardly and forcing the oil out against the accumulator' pressure.

When the booster Ziltl of the weapon titl is `tired and the aft booster shoe 264i thereof slides out from under the shoe indicator plungers St, the hydraulic pressure against the hydraulic actuator piston 52H4 starts the differential transfer clevis Slli forward. llfhe springloaded shoe indicator plungers 5352 snap the differential transfer clevis SMS forward at the end of the stroke. An orifice (not shown) in the line to the hydraulic actuator piston 5T/4 slows the piston 5174 down and prevents destructive peening of mating parts, as indicated in FIG. l0.

The reverse motion latch piston 5l7 raises or lowers the reverse motion latch dido. The reverse motion piston 5173 extends upwardly to provide actuating means for interlock switches SIRAZ and SIRAS and downwardly to operatet he reverse motion latch Slot), as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and following FIGS. 7 to ll.

It is to be noted that 8 illustrates the reverse motion latch Sie@ in position behind the aft booster shoe 2nd. FIG. 9 illustrates the aft shoe latching mechanism after three-sixteenth (W10) inch of travel of the weapony 400, While FIG. l0 shows the aft shoe latching mechanism Silit) after ve and one-half (5l/2) inches of travel of the aft booster shoe 2nd of the weapon 443th. FIG. 11 shows the aft shoe latching mechanism 5110 after the aft booster shoe 2M of the weapon 40th has cleared the launcher rail SMQ.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a spring-loaded hydraulicaly released reversed motion latch detent Sltl is provided to lock the reverse motion latch piston l and the reverse motion latch 51.69 in the retract position in the absence of hydraulic fluid pressure as in shut-down.

An operation cycle of the aft motion latching mechanism Silit during a loading and tiring of a missile weapon fill@ will now be described in connection with the series of illustrations, FIGS. 5 to ll, inclusive.

As shown in FIG. 5, the aft motion latching mechanisrn Silit is ready to receive a missile weapon It will be noted that a solenoid LCRAZ is energized, and it has shifted the directional pilot valve 5036 in the associated guide arm control 5h32 upwardly. Accumulator pressure huid (PA) is ported therefrom to the bottom of the reverse motion latch piston Sl' while the top side is directed to tank pressure T. The reverse motion latch die@ is thus moved upwardly in a retract position by hydraulic pressure fluid.

Accumulator pressure huid is injected through a check Valve SilZ' into cavity below the restraining motion buffer piston 5124. Accumulator iuid pressure also holds the reverse motion latch piston detent ltl disengaged In moving the reverse motion latch 516@ upwardly, it contacts the dilferential pivot 5146 thus holding the differential pivot gld-ti and bringing both shoe indicator plungers 53.52 up. In this action, the differential link Sie@ is raised jointly by the differential pivot Sido and the reverse motion latch piston 557g. The forward latch links Elli?, SM2 latch detent Sli.

The missile weapon is moved into position on the guide arm Stift?, by the loader saddle cart Eiltld until the forward surface of the aft shoe Ztll contacts the forward motion restraining latch Sll, as shown in FIG. 6. The forward motion pawl 2G07 of the saddle cart 26% then slides between the reverse motion latch Sid@ and the forward motion restraining latch 51155 and is partly encompassed by the swivel track Sid-4.

As shown in FIG. 7, a signal energizes a solenoid LCRAE to shift directional valve 5h36 and reverse hydraulic pressure on piston 5R73. The reverse motion latch 5346@ is then hydraulically lowered which brings the shoe indicator plungers SIS?. on top of the aft shoe Ztl@ where they cannot further extend. This causes a clockwise rotation of the differential link Sil/l2. n

Through the rearward shifting of the differential transfer clevis fl, the track toggle link did@ lifts the swivel track Slide. A chain pawl roller 2235, which is attached to the saddle cart forward motion pawl 2h97 and which is now within the swivel track 'llfil raises, lifts the forward motion pawl Ztltl'f over the shoe 2Std and transfers the engagement of the aft shoe Ztl@ from the saddle cart 23h53 to the guide arm 5%2.

The chain pawl roller 22.35 also contacts the pawl indicator link Sled. This keeps the safety latch 5158 disare latched over-center in the forward engaged as long as the forward motion pawl 2007 is in the position shown in FlG. 7.

It is to be noted that with the chain pawl roller 2235 holding the safety latch ofi", a provision is thus made to be able to lift the reverse motion latch, and drop the forward motion pawl Zitti? to countermand the loading of the missile weapon 400 and to retract it with the saddie cart 2006.

The reverse motion latch 516i? travels at an angle from the vertical. Guided in this matter, the latch Sie@ actually wedges the aft shoe Zilliagainst the forward motion restraining latch SME.

'The aft shoe latching mechanism Siil is now holding the aft shoe 264 of the missile Weapon 401i in the readyto-re position, shown in FlG. 8. The saddle cart 20de is retracted from the guide arm 5002. The pawl indicator link 5168 then drops to lock the safety latch 5153 over the reverse motion latch 5166.

In FIG. 9, the booster 2th) of the missile weapon dit@ then fires and the booster aft shoe 2.04 has moved 3716 inch. The forward motion restraining latch 5118 restrains the forward motion of the aft shoe 204 with approximately 10,000 pounds of force for this portion of travel. Rotation of the forward motion restraining latch 511.8 is resisted by the spring 5116 acting through the forward latch links 512% and 522.

The forward latch links S320 and 5222 are travelling up, and, at the same time, are forced out over-center by the forward latch link cam 5140. When the links 5120 and 5122 are beyond the in-line position, they will co1- lapse. FIG. 9a shows how the link 5126 rides up and to the right to clear the forward latch detent 5154.

The aft shoe 204 now moves forward 5.5 inches, as shown in PEG. l0. The forward motion restraining latch Ssl is shown against a buffer pad 5121, while the buffer piston 51.24- restrains the recoil of the restraining motion spring 5MG. The spring-loaded indicator plungers 53.52 then drop, and aided by the hydraulic actuator piston 5174, the swivel track Sid-d is lowered as the clevis 5148 shifts forward.

The aft shoe 204 then moves out of the aft shoe latching mechaism 5110, which now stabilizes, as shown in FIG. ll. The weight of the forward motion restraining latch S113 pulls the forward latch links 512% and 5122 in line.

The restraining latch SL probably goes through some violent motion. These motions may or may not snap the toggle links 512i? and 5&2 into the forward latch detent SiS-t. The positive means of latching comes when the reverse motion latch 5in@ is raised in readiness for another missile weapon 430, and the rocker arm Stb, pivoting against cam SBS, snaps the links 51.20 and 5122 home in the detent 5154.

Obviously, many other modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. lt is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

l. ln a guided missile weapons system comprising a missile, a missile launcher, and means to convey the missile from storage and position it on said launcher, the improvement comprising, shoe means mounted on said missile and utilized for handling said missile, said shoe means having a forward and a rearward surface,

a saddle cart having a forward motion pawl which is operable to engage and disengage said forward surface thereby preventing relative forward motion of said missile when engaged, said cart having a reverse motion pawl operable to engage and disengage said rearward surface thereby preventing relative rearward motion of said missile when engaged, said cart being operable to engage said missile launcher in a manner to permit transfer of said missile from said cart to said launcher, a forward motion latch means and a reverse motion latch mecns operably mounted on said missile launcher, automatic means operable to effect engagement of said forward motion latch means with said forward surface when said cart is engaged with said launcher, said automatic means being operable to effect engagement of said reverse motion latch means with said rearward surface when said cart is engaged with said launcher, said automatic means being operable to effect disengagement of said pawls from said surfaces subsequent to the engagement of said latches with said surfaces, and said automatic means being operable to release said forward motion latch means when a predetermined force is applied thereto.

2. The Weapons system improvement set forth in claim l wherein said predetermined force is generated by said missile.

3. in a guided missile launching system of the type having a missile launcher and means to convey a missile from storage and position it on said launcher, said launcher having r-ail means mounted thereon and said missile being provided with at least one handling shoe cngageable with said rail means and having forward and rearward surfaces, an improved shoe latching mechanism mounted on said launcher and comprising a pivotally mounted forward motion restraining latch and a slidably mounted, hydraulically actuated reverse motion restraining latch, spring means, over-centering linkage means interconnecting said spring means with said forward motion latch to lock said latch in its shoe engaging position, cam means operative to force said over-centering linkage means through its center position, whereby upon the exertion of a predetermined force by said shoe upon said forward motion latch, said spring means is overcome, allowing said cam means to trip said over-centering linkage, thereby releasing said forward motion latch, springbiased safety latch means operative to lock said reverse motion restraining latch in its shoe-engaging position, slidably mounted shoe indicator means, differential linkage means interconnecting said shoe indicator means and said safety latch, whereby upon engagement of the shoe with said shoe indicator means, said differential linkage means is actuated to engage said safety latch with said `reverse motion restraining latch, thereby locking the latter in its shoe engaging position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,826,960 Schiavi Mar. 18, 1958 2,829,782 Rocher Apr. 8, 1958 2,938,431 Dixon Q-- May 31, 1960 2,960,009 Hereth et al Nov. l5, 1950 2,985,072 Carlberg et al May 23, 1961 FOREGN PATENTS 10,849 Great Britain 1911 

1. IN A GUIDED MISSILE WEAPONS SYSTEM COMPRISING A MISSILE, A MISSILE LAUNCHER, AND MEANS TO CONVEY THE MISSILE FROM STORAGE AND POSITION IT ON SAID LAUNCHER, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING, SHOE MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID MISSILE AND UTILIZED FOR HANDLING SAID MISSILE, SAID SHOE MEANS HAVING A FORWARD AND A REARWARD SURFACE, A SADDLE CART HAVING A FORWARD MOTION PAWL WHICH IS OPERABLE TO ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE SAID FORWARD SURFACE THEREBY PREVENTING RELATIVE FORWARD MOTION OF SAID MISSILE WHEN ENGAGED, SAID CART HAVING A REVERSE MOTION PAWL OPERABLE TO ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE SAID REARWARD SURFACE THEREBY PREVENTING RELATIVE REARWARD MOTION OF SAID MISSILE WHEN ENGAGED, SAID CART BEING OPERABLE TO ENGAGE SAID MISSILE LAUNCHER IN A MANNER TO PERMIT TRANSFER OF SAID MISSILE FROM SAID CART TO SAID LAUNCHER, A FORWARD MOTION LATCH MEANS AND A REVERSE MOTION LATCH MEANS OPERABLY MOUNTED ON SAID MISSILE LAUNCHER, AUTOMATIC MEANS OPERABLE TO EFFECT ENGAGEMENT OF SAID FORWARD MOTION LATCH MEANS WITH SAID FORWARD SURFACE WHEN SAID CART IS ENGAGED WITH SAID LAUNCHER, SAID AUTOMATIC MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO EFFECT ENGAGEMENT OF SAID REVERSE MOTION LATCH MEANS WITH SAID REARWARD SURFACE WHEN SAID CART IS ENGAGED WITH SAID LAUNCHER, SAID AUTOMATIC MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO EFFECT DISENGAGEMENT OF SAID PAWLS FROM SAID SURFACES SUBSEQUENT TO THE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID LATCHES WITH SAID SURFACES, AND SAID AUTOMATIC MEANS BEING OPERABLE TO RELEASE SAID FORWARD MOTION LATCH MEANS WHEN A PREDETERMINED FORCE IS APPLIED THERETO. 